This Sunday is Palm Sunday. We call it “Palm Sunday” because of the palm branches that were laid out for Jesus as he made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem a week before his crucifixion. John 12:12 -13 says, “The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting, “HOSANNA! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord–the King of Israel!” Because of these palm branches, we call the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday.
The Gospel of Luke gives us some other significant details about Jesus’ triumphal entry. While the people were waving palm branches and shouting HOSANNA!, there was another group that was unimpressed. They looked at the palm branches and heard all the noise and came to Jesus to tell him to get control of the situation. Listen to their words from Luke 19:39: “Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” In other words, Jesus, tell these people to sit down and shut up! Rebuke them for this craziness!
There’s a word for these pharisaical grumps: Joy-Suckers. These grumps can walk into a room and with the skill of a hoover vacuum, they can suck the joy right out of the place with their fury and their frowns.
But, look at how Jesus responded: Luke 19:40: He (Jesus) answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
In other words, you can’t stop this one, grumps! The people were praising God, and even if they stopped, the rocks would fill the void. Rather than trying to stop them from praising Jesus, the Pharisees should have joined them! After all, if even the stones could notice that King Jesus was on his way to triumphal victory….surely the Pharisees could see it too!
What about you? Are you more like the crowd, shouting HOSANNA! in praise to Jesus? Or are you more like the Pharisees, trying to stop them? If you’re with the crowd, keep shouting! If you’re with the Pharisees, join with us and start shouting! Life is better over here where we praise Jesus. Come and join us.
Brian